Wiring harness clip and pad assembly



Oct. 5, 1965 A. s. VAN SLYKE 3,210,032

WIRING HARNESS CLIP AND PAD ASSEMBLY V Filed Dec. 9, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet1 SEALED PLASTIC TO PLASTIC MATERIALS INVENTOR ALLAN 5. VAN SLYKE Hi6ATTORNEY Oct. 5, 1965 A. s. VAN SLYKE WIRING HARNESS CLIP AND PADASSEMBLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 9, 1965 INVENTOR ALLAN a. VAN SLYKEHIS ATTORNEY Oct. 5, 1965 s. VAN SLYKE WIRING HARNESS CLIP AND PADASSEMBLY 4 SheetsSheet 3 Filed Dec. 9, 1963 INVENTOR ALLAN s. VAN SLYKEHIS AmSRNEY Oct. 5, 1965 A. s. VAN SLYKE 3,210,032

WIRING HARNESS CLIP AND PAD ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 9, 1963 4 sheets-sheet 49 H J3 I41? I21 viii Er; J fi 0 FT I I l l l J7 i i l l fizflzr'ufim I465- 5 M M INVENTOR ALLAN S. VAN .SLYKE HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent3,210,032 WIRING HARNESS CLIP AND PAD ASSEMBLY Allan S. Van Slyke,Southington, Ohio, asslgnor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit,Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 9, 1363, Ser. No. 328,882Claims. (Cl. 248-73) This invention relates to fiat wiring harnessmounting and, more particularly, to a clip and pad assembly for flatwiring harness means.

Increased used of electrical accessories on vehicles required additionalwiring in certain locations to be fitted flush or flat rather thanrounded because of lumpiness of appearance resulting from passage ofother than flat harness means. A one-piece mounting means for grouped orbundled round wiring harness means such as shown by a patent S.N.2,931,85l-Sims issued April 5, 1960 and of a co-pending application S.N.249,755-Ramsey et al. filed January 7, 1963, both belonging to theassignee of the present invention, can be used in locations other thanfor flat wiring harness means mounting. Reference can be made toco-pending applications S.N. 141,483-Baer et a1. and S.N.141,519Scofield et al. both filed September 28, 1961 and belonging tothe assignee of the present invention for flat wiring harness means andrelated structures. An object of the present invention is to provide anew and improved combination wiring harness clip and separable padassembly for flat wiring harness mounting on an apertured paneling.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pad and clip assemblyhaving fastening portions of differing plastic materials that interlockto each other with one portion thereof to provide support directly forflat wiring harness means and another portion resiliently to hold to apredetermined location on apertured paneling.

Another object of this invention is to provide a substantially flatthough elongated pad portion of one insulating material having anintegral though thinned gripping end and an apertured end through whicha clip portion of differing insulating material fits to have interlocktherewith by predetermined lateral ramp means integral and aligned withprojections of which free ends are spaced laterally apart though readilydefiectable for mounting and demounting on an apertured paneling.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a substantiallyflat though elongated rigid vinyl pad portion having an openingtherethrough that receives a flexible clip portion of moldable nylon,for example, with plural locking ears and projections integrallytherewith such that the ears lock against opposite siding of the padopening, the projections having free ends spaced apart from each otherand extending toward outer edges of ribs integral with the clip portionto fit varying aperture sizes of mounting panel means to which a fiatwiring harness means is to be held.

Another object of this invention is to provide flat mounting pad meansto fit on one side of fiat wiring harness meansheld in place onapertured vehicle paneling by a rectangular body portion thinned atleast in part for access space.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription, reference being had to the drawings wherein preferredembodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of combination pad and clip assembly inaccordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a clip portion per se for the assembly ofFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an elevational or side view of the trip portion of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the clip portion of FIG- URES 2 and 3.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a pad portion per se for the assembly ofFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 66 in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is an end view of the pad portion of FIG- URE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a plan View of another pad portion per se having features inaccordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is an end view of the pad portion of FIG- URE 8.

FIGURE 11 is a side view of an assembly of the pad portion of FIGURES 8,9 and 10 with the clip portion of FIGURES 2, 3 and 4.

FIGURE 12 is an end view of the assembly of FIG- URE 11.

FIGURE 13 is a plan view of another embodiment of fiat wiring harnessfastening means.

FIGURE 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1414 in FIGURE 13.

FIGURE 15 is an end view of the fastening means of FIGURE 13.

FIGURE 1 shows in perspective a pad and clip assembly generallyindicated by numeral 20 for mounting of rectangular cable or fiat wiringharness means H having plural conductors C therewith as indicated alsoin this same view. The assembly 20 includes a main body portion withsubstantially fiat surfacing on opposite sides and indicated by numeral21. A squared or rectangular opening or aperture 22 extends through thismain body portion of the pad and has parallel edging 23 as well asundercut sides or recesses 24 and 25 indicated in views of FIGURES l, 5,6 and 7. These same views also show an integral extension or thinnedgripping end 26 projecting laterally to one side of the main bodyportion of the pad indicated by numeral 21 such that a continuous flatsurfacing is mutually provided therebetween on one side thereof.

The perspective view of the assembly 20 in FIGURE 1 also illustrates aclip portion 30 having a central base 31 and opposite integralextensions 32 of less thickness. These extensions 32 are adapted to fittelescopically into the undercuts or recesses 24 and 25 of the pad mainbody portion 21. Reference can be made to views of FIG- URES 2, 3 and 4for illustration of the clip portion 30 per so as well as furtherspecific features thereof. These further features include a pair ofprojections 33 having a slot 34 therebetween. The projections includeintegral free ends 35 spaced on opposite sides away from each other byan undercut 36 which enhances resilience and defiectability of the freeends 35 toward each other during insertion thereof through a mountingaperture A of the panel P indicated in FIGURE 3. The slot 34 has lesswidth where it terminates in the clip body portion or base 31 than widthwhich increases progressively along the spacing between the projections33. As can be seen in views of FIGURES 1 through 4 of the drawings, theclip means have relatively thin and defiectable web portions 37 whichcan have edging 38 thereof engaged periphery of the aperture A throughthe mounting panel P as indicated in FIGURE 3. Thus the edging 38 of theweb portions 37 can permit assembly and mounting of the clip portionrelative to panels of differing thickness as well as to apertures ofdiffering sizes compensated for by the web portions 37 and moreparticularly edging 38 thereof. Such web portions 37 and edging 38thereof assures engagement of the panel P along one side while free ends35 of the projections 33 engage in opposite side of the panel P.

Further in accordance with the present invention the clip portion hastriangular-shaped or ramp-like means or ears 39 integral and inalignment with the projections 33 on opposite sides thereof. These rampmeans or ears 39 are adapted to interlock and engage with oppositeedging 23 of the hole or aperture 22 through the main body portion 21 ofthe pad. The assembly view of FIGURE 1 shows these ramp means or ears 39against edging or surfacing surrounding the aperture 22 on one side ofthe main body of the pad portion While the extensions 32 integral alsowith the main body of the clip portion as indicated by numerals 31-32 inviews of FIGURES 2-4 can engage an opposite side of the main bodyportion of the pad particularly where recessed at locations in alignmentwith the hole or aperture 22 and indicated by reference numerals 2425.

FIGURES 8, 9 and illustrate another pad portion having a main body 41with an aperture or opening 42 centrally therethrough. The body portion41 has opposite edging 43 as well as recessing 44 and 45 similar to thatidentified by reference numerals 23, 24 and 25 respectively previously.FIGURES l1 and 12 are views to illustrate assembly of this pad portion41 with the clip portion 30 and features thereof as described for viewsof FIGURES 2, 3 and 4. Thus it can be seen that the clip portion such as30 can be used with differing pads adapted for fiat harness meansmounting as indicated in views of FIGURES 1 and 11. It is to be notedthat the clip portion can be made of a relatively resilient multipleplastic material such as nylon whereas the pad portions are to be madeof a relatively rigid plastic material such as vinyl. Therefore, thelocking ears 39 being part of the resilient clip portion can readilysnap or lock the clip portion into engagement with the pad portion towhich flat wiring harness means can be held adhesively such as by heatsealing plastic pad and plastic harness materials to hold the fiatharness means in place. Tape or wrapping could possibly be used also forsuch holding. Thus the pad and clip assembly in accordance with thepresent invention is made of two different types of plastic or moldablematerial held together. The use of resilient material for the clipportion also enhances fitting of the projections and free ends 33 and 35respectively through mounting panel apertures. Reference numerals inFIGURES 11 and 12 identify the pad portion of FIGURES 8-10 as well asthe clip portion of FIGURES 2-4.

FIGURES 13, 14 and illustrate a fastening means generally indicated bynumeral 50 having a thinned straplike central body portion 51 providinga recess or offset 52 to one side thereof Where a flat harness means Hwith conductors C can be positioned as indicated in views of FIGURES 13and 15. This fastening means 50 can be made of a suitable plasticmaterial formed integrally with enlarged ends 53 at opposite extremitiesthereof each provided with a transverse elongated slot 54 through whicha suitable mounting or fastener such as screws can be inserted.

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosedconstitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms canbe adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A separable assembly for mounting of flat wiring harness means,comprising, a pad portion of insulating material having an openingtherethrough as well as fiat surfacing on opposite sides thereof, exceptfor recessing in alignment with the opening on one side thereof, and aclip portion of insulating material having a main body portion withopposite lateral extensions that complement the opening and recessing ofsaid pad portion, said clip portion further including projections havingfree ends deflectable during passage through a mounting panel apertureand extending toward said extensions, each of said projections havingintegral ears that engage edging of the opening through said pad portionand that maintain interlock of said clip and pad portions to each other.

2. In combination, a substantially fiat though elongated rigid vinyl padportion having an opening therethrough as well as recessing extending inopposite directions therefrom on one side thereof, and a clip portion ofresilient moldable material such as nylon integrally including a mainbody portion having opposite extensions to fit recessing with theopening of said rigid pad portion, said pad and clip portions havingflat surfacing complementary to each other on one side thereof, a pairof diverging projections integral with said main body portion, web meansextending in opposite directions transversely from said projections andjoined also to said main body portion, free ends integral with saidprojections and extending substantially oppositely thereof and undercuttoward said web means and main body portion, and plural ramp-like earsintegral on opposite sides of said projection interlocking against oneside of said pad portion in a location opposite to that engaged by saidextensions that fit recessing complementary thereto as fiat surfacingfor flat wiring harness support.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said pad portion has an integralthinned gripping portion as a continuation of flat surfacing and saidvinyl pad portion is heat scalable to hold the fiat wiring harness inplace.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein a total of four ears extend inpairs away from each other and said clip portion is symmetrical andalike on opposite sides of a plane through said web means yet separableto be interchangeable with differing pad portions.

5. In combination, a substantially flat though elongated rigid plasticpad portion having an opening therethrough as well as recessingextending in opposite directions therefrom on one side thereof, and aclip portion of resilient moldable plastic material integrally includinga main body portion having opposite extensions to fit recessing with theopening of said rigid pad portion, said pad and clip portions havingfiat surfacing complementary to each other on one side thereof, a pairof divering projections integral with said main body portion, web meansextending in opposite directions transversely from said projections andjoined also to said main body portion, free ends integral with saidprojections and extending substantially oppositely thereof and undercuttoward said web means and main body portion, and plural ramp-like earsintegral on opposite sides of said projection interlocking against oneside of said pad portion in a location opposite to that engaged by saidextensions that fit recessing complementary thereto as flat surfacingfor flat wiring harness support, each of said projections having saidweb means integral therewith and each web means having an edgeengageable with mounting panel aperture edging to accommodate differencein mounting panel thickness as well as difference in mounting anaperture diameter.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,789,842 4/57Lief 285188 2,931,851 4/60 Sims 17472 3,126,185 3/64 Christman 174164 X3,154,281 10/64 Frank.

JOHN F. BURNS, Primary Examiner.

1. A SEPARABLE ASSEMBLY FOR MOUNTING OF FLAT WIRING HARNESS MEANS,COMPRISING, A PAD PORTION OF INSULATING MATERIAL HAVING AN OPENINGTHERETHROUGH AS WELL AS FLAT SURFACING ON OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF, EXCEPTFOR RECESSING IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE OPENING ON ONE SIDE THEREOF, AND ACLIP PORTION OF INSULATING MATERIAL HAVING A MAIN BODY PORTION WITHOPPOSITE LATERAL EXTENSIONS THAT COMPLEMENT THE OPENING AND RECESSING OFSAID PAD PORTION, SAID CLIP PORTION FURTHER INCLUDING PROJECTIONS HAVINGFREE ENDS DEFLECTABLE DURING PASSAGE THROUGH A MOUNTING PANEL APERTUREAND EXTENDING TOWARD SAID EXTENSIONS, EACH OF SAID PROJECTIONS HAVINGINTEGRAL EARS THAT ENGAGE EDGING OF THE OPENING THROUGH SAID PAD PORTIONAND THAT MAINTAIN INTERLOCK OF SAID CLIP AND PAD PORTIONS TO EACH OTHER.